Dismissing Issues vs Not

[Mature Related]

So I had an issue about marijuana, there were 2 options, 1 pro, 1 anti. So I picked the pro one, then my civil rights went down, which I suspect would have happened if I picked the anti-drug option as well. The updated status says "marijuana is legal in the privacy of your own home," which makes it imply that it was legal outside the home before (which is what I understood I was voting for). So when I dismiss an issue, what is happening, does it change your statistics, or does it simply skip over the question, and not have an effect on anything? NationState's issues seem to take the position that anything that isn't banned is permissible, is that how it works, have I been voting away civil rights by choosing a side?

So what does a vote or dismissal mean?

I suppose this is also a bit of a technical question aswell, but an important one non the less, because predicting what your decisions will do is only possible if you know the rules.

Thanks.

[Indeos]

I think that dismissing an issue means nothing is affected. As for specific effects, that depends on the issue.

[United Casio]

If you dismiss an issue, things stay the same. If you pick pro- or anti- it will have an effect. Otherwise, it stays the same.

[Mature Related]

I suppose the old mantra "don't fix it if it ain't broke" doesn't apply to games.